Motor-vehicle.



' M. s. TowsoN.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED sBPT.2s. 1911.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

2 sHBsTs-sHBET 1.

`M. S'. TOWSON.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI. 2s, 1911.

1,1 l gangs Patentedsepnzsa, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f STATES rrrcn,

MORRS/S. TOWSON, F CLEELND, OHIO, ASSIG-N'OR, BY 'MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE ELW'ELL-PARKER ELECTRIC COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAID, OHIO, A CORPORA- TIONOF UH.'

' specificati@ of Leners raient.

i Mornfvnnrcnn. i

Patented Sept, 1914:.

Application filed Septemberf, i913..l Serial No. $51,423.

of which the following is a'full, clear, ard' t ev exact description,reference being had 'to accompanying 'drawin, s.,l

'llhis invention relates' of that class wherein there is a shaftl drive.IThe object of the invention is to pro'vlde such a suspension for themotor-and such an v arrangement of shaft drive therefrom to' the vliveaxles as will be efficient in service, while being simple inconstruction; To this end l suspend the motor Iso that it may swing 'ina vertical fore-and-aft plane, as well as turn on its own axis, and lconnectthe armature shaft directly with the drive'shaft with Y l 'to afunnel shaped fitting 3l, which surwhich it linesl and connect-the motorcasingdirectlywith the housing of the live axle sectionsand differentialmecha-mism. This arrangement reduces the number-of bearings and theconsequent transmission losses7 places the entire driving mechanism in acompletely inclosed-housing, and allows the necessary independence of..movement bedit tween the' drive wheelsv arid the frame or body carryingthe motor.l

My invention includes not only the ar-v rangement of suspension anddrive mentioned, but also the particular embodiment` thereof hereinillustrated and hereinafter more fully described. l

- ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the chassis .of anelectric-vehicle embodying my invention; Fig'. 2 is a side elevationthereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan of the motor and its supportingmechanism.; Fig. l

. is a detail view` otthe trunnion bar which tor. On the forward end ci'this casi-nglis aA tubular extension ll preferably integral to motorvehicles` with an end plate of the casing. This extension is journaledin a central opening 2l of a trunnion bar 20 which extends transflversely of the vehicle and has its ends formed into trunnions 22 whichare journaled in brackets '25 suitably carried by the chassis frame. Asshown, the brackets extend longitudinally of the frame and each havea'pair of upperfeet 26 which are bolted to crossbars 28 and 29y securedto the longitudinal members of the chassis frame. The bars 28 and 29 areshownas angle irons which is a convenient construction. On the Aforwardend of the-tubular extension l1 of the' motor trarne is'threadedavsuitable col- Qlar 18tohold the motor swivelly to the trunnimm-bar.lrlhis collar isshown as screwed Eonto the tubular extension and. held by'a spriung.wint-y19@ y .The rear end of the motor casing is boltedrounds and' is rigidly connected with the -forward end of a tubularhousing 30 connected at its rear end' with the housing 7 of thedifferential mechanism.

32indicates a air of diagonall brace bars bolted at their o rward endsto ears 33 on the fitting 3l on opposite sides of the housf ing 30 andbolted at their rear ends to the `housin s l of the live axle sections.

'I t will be seen from the construction described that the housings, thelive axle sections,v the housing for the differential, the

'housing for the drive shaft and the motor frame constitute a rigid,continuous mem! ber,A operating as a unit.i In travel this compositehousing swings in a vertical plane by reason ofthe trunnions turning intheir bearings or twists axially within the trunnion bar, as therelation of the driving wheels to the chassis frame varies. y

The armature within the motor has its shaft 40 mounted in a pair of ballbearings within the motor frame adjacent to the tubular extension andrear end thereof. The `forward bearing is shown at 41. The rear end 4,2of the armature shaft is squared or given other angular form. ,Thepropeller shaft 43' is formed with a corresponding socket'illon itsforward end, whichcxtends over the armature shaft. Near its rearend thispropeller shai'tis journaled inthe housing 7 of the differential ymechanism.A On the rear end of the shait is a pinion timeshing with themain gear 6 of the dilerential mechanism. The armature shaft extendsforwardly beyond the trunnion bar 20 and has mounted on such forwardextension a suitable iy wheel 49 extending into the space between thecross bars'28 and 29.

Itwill be seen that the direct drive provided between the armature andthe differential 'mechanism reduces the number of bearings and hence thetransmission losses. The mechanism is also simpler and of less parts towear or get out of order than a construction employing additionalreduction gearing, chains or countershafts.v The ccntrally locatedconnection between the motor. and the rear axle, as well as thecompletely inclosing housing, gives a neat appearance to theconstruction. The motor is easily re moved by disconnecting the brackets25 and unbolting the rear tubular extension from the motor frame. Thenthe armature shaft may be readily drawn out of the socket of the driveshaft, with which it has an easy slidin engagement. v It s ould be notedthat with my method of suspension the propelling stress of the vehicleis transmitted from the rotating wheels to the body of the vehiclethrough the motor itself instead of through the springs, thereby makinga more effective drive and relieving ithe springs. The springs rest onthe axle-housings by suitable sleeves, within which the housings mayturn.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is :v

l. In a motor vehicle, the combination, with the frame having a pair ofcross bars, of a motor casing having a tubular extension at its forwardend, a transverse member in which said tubular extension is journalcd,brackets mounted on the cross bars for pivotally carrying the transversemember by the frame, a fly wheel on the forward end of the armatureshaft extending int-o the space between the cross bars, and mechanismincluding the drive shaft connecting the rear end of the armature shaftwith the live axle.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination, with a main frame, of atransverse bar pivotally carried thereby, a motor casing having atubular extension about its axis, said extension being journaled in anopening in the transverse bar, a collar secured to the extension on theopposite side of the transverse bar, the armature shaft of the motor extending through the tubular extension of the frame, a fly wheel on saidshaft beyond the transverse bar, and mechanism including a drive shaftconnecting the other end of the armature with the live axle.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination, with a chassis frame, of atransverse bar having trunnions at its ends journaled in the frame andhaving an eye at its center, a. motor having a tubular extension on oneend of its frame journaled in said eye, an armature within the motorhaving its shaft journaled in a bearing within the tubular extension,and propelling means for the vehicle connected with the other end of thearmature shaft.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination, with a chasis-frame, of atransverse bar having trunnions at its ends journaled in the frame andhaving an eye at its center, a motor having a tubular extension on oneend of its frame journaled in said eye, an armature within the motorhaving its shaft extending through the tubular extension, a wheel onsaid shaft beyond the extension, and pro- 'peiling means for thevehicle. connected with

